Zoo Connections
Curriculum
A Change Will Do You Good:
The diversity and change of organisms over
time
4th grade
Curriculum is aligned with the Mississippi
Academic Framework. Lessons and support
material are provided in the following areas:
Life Science – 3a; Language Arts – 3d, 3e;
Mathematics – 1c, 1h, 1i, 2d;
Social Studies – 1d.
Pre-Visit
Vocabulary Words
Habitat
Species
Extinct
Adaptation
Recycle
Range
Campaign
Fossil
Concepts
In order to survive in their habitats, animals have adaptations.
Adaptations serve different functions of the animal’s survival in its habitat;
therefore an animal can only survive in a habitat to which it is adapted.
Animals need to adapt to changing conditions or they may become extinct.
Activities
Vocabulary Words
Introduce the vocabulary words to your class. Review their meaning together. Pass
out the Animal Awareness Word Jumble for them to complete in class or at home.
Adaptations
Review the definition of adaptation. Discuss with your students that they have
adaptations too! Play a game to demonstrate how important our opposable thumbs
are. Using masking tape or string, secure the student’s thumbs to the palms of their
hands, making them unmovable. Ask them to do several tasks such as tying/untying
their shoes, writing their names, or any other activity that would usually involve using
thumbs. Once everyone has their thumbs back, use pictures to help the students
identify the adaptations animals have. Ask them to think about where the animals live
and some things that would help them survive in their environment. Start with some
obvious adaptations and work up to some that might be more difficult to spot.
Fossil Pictures
Have your students look at fossils of extinct animals. These fossils can be real or
pictures from magazines, books, or the internet. Have them write down the adaptations
they see; then compare/contrast those to animals that are alive today. See if your
students can find adaptations or lack of adaptations that may be responsible for the
animal’s extinction.
Adaptation in Action
Give the students each a piece of paper and have them make a paper airplane. Have
them all fly their airplanes. The plane that was determined to be the “best,” have the
student who made it instruct others on how to make it. Once all the students have
made it, fly the planes again. Ask the students if they all flew the exact same and justify
their answers. Make the “best” airplane from this round and re-fly them and discuss the
results again. Create a discussion about how small changes can create big differences.
This can be seen in the way animals adapt to their surroundings. Animals make little
changes over time to help them survive better in their habitat. Over long periods of
time, these changes can lead to really big differences among species.
Animal Awareness
Word Jumble
Use the clues to figure out what the jumbled words spell. Use the numbered letters to
figure out the secret message.
1. tpanoatdia __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Something an animal has or does to
11 &18
3
21
13 help it survive in the wild.
2. psseeci __ __ __ __ __ __ __ A group of living things that share common features
15
6
and are called by a common name.
3. cigpanam __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ A planned activity that helps to create
22 8
14 10 awareness.
4. ibathat __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Any area that an animal makes its home; containing
5 23
19
food, water, shelter and space.
5. rgena __ __ __ __ __ The area where a type of living thing lives in the world.
12
20
9
7. textnic __ __ __ __ __ __ __ When all members of a plant or animal are no longer
4
alive.
8. ccyrele __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Taking trash and finding a way to reuse it.
16
2
7
17
9. ifsosl __ __ __ __ __ __ The remains of plants or animals that have died.
25
1
__
24
__ __ __ __ __ __ __
1
2
3
4
11
12
13
5
6
7
8
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
9
10
14
15
16
17
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ !
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
18
At the Zoo
Remind your students about what they have learned about adaptations and endangered species. Have
your students work in groups at the zoo to complete the Endangered Species Scavenger Hunt
Activity Sheet. Make enough copies for each group to have one. For ease, if you print it double sided the
students will only have one piece of paper to keep track of. Let your students help you teach. Ask them
questions that help them discover the information they want to learn. Remind them to read signs and
ask any zoo staff member or volunteer any questions that they have!
*While every animal is not listed on the Zoo Activity Sheet, we encourage you to visit all of the exhibits.
Some adaptations of the animals on the activity sheet are listed below to help you to guide the students
to the answers. The students may surprise you and come up with even more!
Sumatran Tiger
The tiger has a pattern for camouflage in its natural environment which is often tall grass. Being the
smallest of the tiger species, it is easier for the Sumatran tiger to move through the jungle. The white
spots on the back of tiger's ears are called "eye spots" or "predator spots". These spots are believed to
function as false eyes as well as to make it look larger to any predator approaching from behind. This is
particularly helpful in keeping cubs safe.
White Rhinoceros
The white rhinoceros looks like an intimidating creature. Its powerful body and massive horns make it
seem like a strong predator. But its most effective tool in catching its food is its wide mouth…rhinos are
vegetarians and graze for their food. Their strong lips and wide rectangular mouths are perfect for
plucking grass. They also make it a practice of covering themselves with mud to protect them from the
hot sun. Their large ears can hear very well, which somewhat makes up for their poor vision.
Red Panda
The red panda is not a bear. It fact, the panda makes up its own family. It is a tree dweller and has
sharp claws to help it climb. It has thick, dense fur to protect it from cold and rain. Sharp teeth allow it to
eat bamboo, a prominent plant species in its habitat.
Chimpanzee
Chimpanzees are very social animals and will often touch, groom and “play” with other chimps in their
community. They are fully loaded with muscles which make them strong and heavy. Because of the
added muscle weight, they are too heavy to swim. Look around the chimp enclosure and you will see that
it only takes a moat of water to keep them safe and secure in their zoo home. Like humans, they have an
opposable thumb which they use to grab for tree branches, food and other items they may use.
American Alligator
The alligator is built perfectly to live and survive in the water. It has a powerful tail that is uses as a
rudder when it swims and to knock prey down. Its eyes and nostrils are on the top of its head so that it
can be almost completely submerged under water and still be able to see and breath. The alligator has
hard scales on its back called scutes that act like a suit of armor for protection. Most notable is the
alligators strong mouth; with over 80 teeth and about 2,125 pounds of force! (That is about the weight of
a small pick-up truck)
Endangered Species
Scavenger Hunt
Some animals are endangered and face extinction because their habitat is changing
faster than they can keep up with. Observe some of the endangered species at the zoo
and fill in the chart below.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Draw 3 adaptations you see on the animal that help it survive in the wild.
Write down the habitat the animal lives in.
Write down the food the animal eats.
Write down the range of where the animal lives.
Write down some interesting facts about the animal.
Animal
Sumatran Tiger
Adaptation
Adaptation
Adaptation
Habitat
Food
Range
Interesting Facts
Animal
White Rhinoceros
Adaptation
Adaptation
Adaptation
Habitat
Food
Range
Interesting Facts
Animal
Chimpanzee
Adaptation
Adaptation
Adaptation
Habitat
Food
Range
Interesting Facts
Animal
Red Panda
Adaptation
Adaptation
Adaptation
Habitat
Food
Range
Interesting Facts
The Amazing Alligator
(Behind building J on your Zoo map)
Alligators have been around since the time of dinosaurs. View our
alligators at the zoo and identify the adaptations you think have helped
them survive for millions of years.
Note: Our alligators may be hard to find, look in the reeds close to the shoreline.
Adaptation
How has it helped them survive?
Post-Visit
Vocabulary
Pass out the Endangered Animals Crossword Puzzle for the students to complete
as the review for what they have learned about the vocabulary words
Crocodilian Comparison
Pass out the Crocodilian Comparison activity sheet and have the students complete
it in class or at home.
Recycling Activity
Use the facts below to develop math problems about the benefits of recycling and
conservation. Have the students use their addition, subtraction, multiplication, and
division skills.
A dripping faucet (1 drip per second) creates 86,400 drips per day. That is 5
gallons of water a day.
o Example Question: The Mississippi River is a good source of water for
animals; if everybody’s faucet dripped in your class, how long would it
take to empty this river?
Paper comes from trees and on average 1 American uses 7 trees per year.
o Example Question: Have the students count the trees on their school yard
or in a different designated place; ask them to calculate how long it would
take them to use up those trees.
By recycling 1 ton of paper, you can save 17 mature trees and reduce 3 cubic
yards of landfill space.
o Example Question: How many mature trees fit into 15 cubic yards in a
landfill?
Narrative Project
Pass back the Endangered Species Scavenger Hunt activity sheets and have the
students work independently or in small groups to create a campaign to help save one
of the endangered species they saw at the zoo. Their campaign materials should
include 1 research paper with facts about their animal and their plans to save it. They
should also create a visually stimulating poster that inspires and teaches others about
how to save that animal.
Resources
Animal Collection: http://jacksonzoo.org/
Information about some of Jackson Zoo’s endangered species.
Animal Bytes; Conservation Status: http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/astatus.html
An explanation of what endangered and other conservation statuses mean and
how it is determined.
Panda Challenge: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Education/ConservationCentral/
default.cfm
An interactive game where students explore animal habitats and discover ways
people help protect animals.
Conservation Snapshots: http://aza.org/conservation-snapshots/
A description of the different types of animal groups and some problems each
group is facing in the wild.
World Wildlife Website: www.wwf.org
This website provides information about endangered animal species, current
research projects and conservation techniques that occur around the world.
Recommended Zoo Programs
Are you looking for another way to bring the lessons in this curriculum to life? We’ve
got just the thing; when you’re at the zoo stop by the Gertrude C. Ford Education
building for a fun educational program that supports this material or have the Jackson
Zoo come to you!
At the Zoo
Wild Classroom:
Curious Creatures- Why don’t snakes have fur? How come an ostrich has
feathers but doesn’t fly? During this exploration of animals, you’ll compare and
contrast, discover differences within the animal kingdom, and come away
knowing more about why animals look and act the way do.
Animal Program:
Mississippi Wilds- Have you ever wondered what might be living in your back
yard? Here in Mississippi it could be anything from otters to owls! Discover how
these native animals are surviving during this look into their lives.
Let us Visit You
Zoo Mobile:
Habitat Sweet Habitat- What does it take to survive? For starters, a good
home always helps. It’s all about the habitat; animals have different physical
and behavioral adaptations to thrive where they live. Let’s discover a few of
them!
For information on how to schedule any of these programs for your class,
visit our website at www.jacksonzoo.org or call 601-352-2580 ext 240.
All of these programs must be scheduled at least two weeks in advance.
Endangered Animals
Crossword Puzzle
Complete the crossword puzzle by filling in the vocabulary words that match their
definitions.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Across
2. Taking unwanted items and finding
ways to reuse them again.
5. The location where a living thing can
be found.
7. Anything an animal has or does that
helps it survive in the wild.
8. When an animal completely disappears
for forever.
Down
1. One type of living animal that is called
by a common name.
3. An area that has everything an animal
needs to survive.
4. Raising awareness about something.
6. The remains or impressions left of a
dead animal or plant.
Crocodilian Comparison
Alligators have been around for millions of years but many of their relatives have gone
extinct. Below is an extinct species of crocodile called geosaura. It lived 155-175 million
years ago during the mid to late Jurassic Period. It was 10 feet long and weighed 250
pounds. Using the diagram below, compare and contrast the adaptation of geosaura to
the alligator you saw at the zoo.
Geosaura
Geosaura
American Alligator
Both
Alligator
Looking at these adaptations, why do you think the geosaura went extinct while the
American alligator survived?